Russia claims its Su-27 fighter jet intercepted a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber over the Black and Baltic seas on Monday.
The video below was released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Tuesday, and Russia says it was recorded from the cockpit of the Su-27 fighter jet as it chased a U.S. B-52 bomber over the seas near Russia.
Watch the footage here:
#Footage The #USAirForce‘s #B52H strategic bombers were detected yesterday near the Russian state border in the vicinity of the #BlackSea and the #BalticSea. In order to intercept the aircraft, Russian on-duty #Su27 fighter jets were scrambled https://t.co/9V4LcH4fmk @mfa_russia pic.twitter.com/pQF5TmYDQI
— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) June 18, 2019
The U.S. bomber was one of three U.S. B-52H bombers from the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, on a training mission around the Black and Baltic Seas, according to a U.S. Air Force statement on Monday.
The U.S. Air Force did not acknowledge the intercept; its statement said the bombers were in the area “to support exercises in Europe.”
“The bombers will take part in three exercises in the Baltic and Black Sea regions, providing opportunities for training with our allies and partners. Strategic bomber missions enhance the readiness and training necessary to respond to any potential crisis or challenge across the globe,” the statement said.
Russia’s National Defense Management Center spokesperson said, “On June 17, 2019, crews of Russian Su-27 fighter jets that were on combat duty intercepted US B-52H bombers that were approaching Russia’s state border from the Black and Baltic Seas,” according to the Russian news agency, Tass.
The spokesperson added that the B-52 never violated Russia’s border and the Russian fighter jet remained compliant with the international airspace laws.
It is not uncommon for the U.S. and Russia to intercept one another’s bombers in that region.
A week earlier, on June 10, a Russian Su-27 intercepted U.S. and Swedish spy planes traveling near the Russian border over the Baltic Sea. NATO was holding exercises in the area.
“The Su-27 pilot reported on the identification of foreign reconnaissance aircraft and accompanied them, preventing violations of the Russian airspace borders in compliance with all necessary security measures,” the Russian statement said, according to CNN.
Russia released a video of that intercept, as well.
#Footage On June 10, a #Su27 fighter of Russian #BalticFleet‘s Air Defence on-duty forces took off for accompanying a #USAirForce‘s #RC135 and a #SwedishAirForce‘s #Gulfstream reconnaissance aircraft having approached the Russian state border https://t.co/qt3rALZJ7i @mfa_russia pic.twitter.com/ypPNNjRTB9
— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) June 11, 2019
“A RC-135 was flying a routine mission in international airspace over the Baltic sea. It was intercepted by a Russian Federation SU-27 aircraft. The intercept was deemed safe,” a U.S. official told CNN.
Multiple similar incidents involving interactions with U.S. and Russian aircraft have occurred this year, including several instances of Russian bombers crossing the threshold of the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, warranting the response of F-22 fighters.
